Anti-Maidan protesters recapture government building in Donetsk

Pro-Russian protesters clash with police as they storm a regional state administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on March 5, 2014.(AFP Photo / Alexander Khudoteply) / AFP

Anti-Maidan activists have recaptured the administrative headquarters of the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. It comes just hours after police freed the building which has been under siege for days. Protesters also flew a Russian flag from the premises.

Earlier on Wednesday, police evacuated the building after
receiving reports that it was booby-trapped with explosives.
After law enforcement searched the premises with police dogs,
they found an anti-personnel mine, which was later defused at an
artillery range.

The regional government headquarters was seized by protesters on
Monday as they burst inside chanting "Putin come.” The
building remained occupied until Wednesday morning.

A wave of pro-Russian protests has gripped Donetsk, the home city
of ousted President Viktor Yanukovich, since Ukraine’s parliament
voted to repeal the country's language law. Protesters are
demanding control over the regional police force and to end ties
with Kiev.

Demonstrators flew a Russian flag on top of the administration
building on Saturday. It was briefly replaced with the Ukrainian
flag on Wednesday, as police removed the crowd from the area.

Protests continue to take place in several eastern Ukrainian
cities, including the city of Kharkov, where nearly 5,000 people
gathered outside a local administration building on Wednesday
demanding a referendum. The rally began earlier in the day, with
roughly 1,000 activists protesting near the Lenin monument. They
then marched to the city’s administration building, chanting
pro-Russian slogans such as “Russia, help!” and
“Russia, protect us,” as well as “Kharkov – Russian
city.” No violence was reported. Local armed forces have
been reported to be heading towards the local government
building, which has so far been secured by 500 riot police
officers.